• X-Force vol.2 #1
• Avngrs./Thunderbolts #6
• JLA #103

• Bloodhound #2
• Chosen #3

So, here we are. This issue features the return to comics of the #1 man on MANY comics fans’ “Love to Hate ‘Em” list. I, myself, have been waiting for this book eagerly. Not from anticipation of its greatness, but instead so that I could vilify and make fun of Rob Liefeld’s lack of talent, style, and so much more. And it’s killing me to admit it, but…I just can’t do it. Liefeld’s time out of the spotlight appears to have taught him a thing or two about pacing, storytelling, and most importantly of all, human anatomy (people finally look NORMAL, as it were). This issue of X-FORCE 1 is leagues better than the original volume’s first issue, or for that matter, Liefeld’s last issue on that same title. Oddly enough, as recently as his ill-fated return to Marvel Comics during the “Heroes Reborn” event (he did the first 7 issues of the13 issue run of Captain America) Liefeld was still despised and considered one of the worst hacks in the business. I think this book could go a long way toward restoring the acclaim that Liefeld had early on in his career.

*whew* Now, having gotten that out of the way, I’ll comment on the actual book. The premise of the issue is that Nathan Charles Christopher Summers, aka Cable, finds out that a mission he has been waiting years to complete is finally on the horizon. In order to complete this mission he needs to enlist the aid of his former X-Force teammates. This issue Cable sets out to enlist Shatterstar, thus having reunited about half of his team (Domino was already with Cable, having been by his side the entire time). One of the highlights of the issue is a battle between hybrid, genetically engineered mercenaries from the future and a group of ninja monks.

So, as much as it pains me to admit it, I didn’t hate it. I may even have liked it, but I’ll reserve judgement on that until I’ve read a larger number of issues. We’ll see if Rob can live up to his potential this time…-TMC-

This is the final chapter of this limited series, and I have to say I’m both impressed and satisfied. Busiek created the Thunderbolts, then handed it off to Nicieza, who took the book and ran with it. The very last thing in the book has me elated beyond belief, but I’ll address that momentarily.

A lot of different events take place in this issue, but I won’t go into specifics so as to not spoil the story for anyone who hasn’t read it already (unabashed plug: feel free to discuss it in the forums, though!). Just let me say there are many life changing events for these characters…and not just the Thunderbolts, there are Avengers involved as well. We’ll see if this is carried over to the Avengers own book, though….because I very much doubt any events taking place here will even be acknowledged over there.

And now on to the most exciting thing of all: the announcement of a new Thunderbolts 1 in November! That, to me, is fantastic news. I said in an earlier review that it was a travesty that the original book ended the original concept with issue 75 and continued on with a very poor imitation of “Fight Club.” And now I’ve been proven correct…at least in my own mind, lol. Good job, Joe Q, for giving the Thunderbolts another well deserved run.-TMC-

This third installment of this story arc features Green Lantern John Stewart. The common theme in this six issue arc is the failure of a member of the League to save a life (or lives) from a tragic end of some sort. There’s another common tie, but I’ll get to that momentarily.

This issue, as I said, deals with John Stewart. While on patrol, John hears two disturbances simultaneously, and chooses the wrong one to go to first. The rest of the issue deals with his grief over this issue and his vow to protect everyone on earth all the time. Obviously this is not physically possible, especially for a normal human being.-TMC-